*Main pic: Thus far and no further … 4wd track south of Sandy Cape. Previously there had been a typed letter of apology for the inconvenience taped to a pole. The Federal court case obviously pressured the Libs to make a legal statement …
Pic: DAN BROUN: ‘Funny what you find under the bushes near the popular hang-outs for the 4wd-folk at Lake McKenzie …’
Pics above and below by Ted Mead
Four wheel drive enthusiasts on Tasmania’s west coast have held a rally calling on the State Government to fulfil an election promise to re-open tracks in the area.
Some tracks in the Arthur Pieman Conservation Area were closed in 2012 to protect Aboriginal heritage, including middens, hut depressions and rock engravings.
The Liberal Party, who were in opposition at the time, made an election pledge to re-open 90 kilometres of them if elected.
The Government did re-open some in 2014 but the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre then won an interim injunction in the Federal Court.
This meant Parks and Wildlife could not issue driving permits until the Federal Court made its decision, which is expected soon.
Around 300 people attended a rally at Arthur River on Saturday, driving their off-road vehicles.
Organiser Stafford Heres Jr said locals were disappointed they were not able to do what they love in the places they used to.
…
Heather Sculthorp from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre said the heritage sites were unique and irreplaceable.
“The area is now part of the National Heritage list because of its unique cultural values,” she said.
“There’s a whole raft of cultural material there — seal hides, complicated middens, huge middens, remains of huts and rock art.”
Ms Sculthorp said the previous state Labor government ran a thorough process to find a compromise, which had been ignored.
